Lourdes Grotto
Our first project visit of the day was to the Lourdes Grotto, a property developed by Fr. Pommier, an Oblate priest from Minnesota. The area was enrobed in so much green! Trees included palm, coconut, mango and other tropical giants. Hidden among these were giants of another sort: a virtual Jurassic Park of hand-structured dinosaurs roamed the land and gave even the best real zoos in the US a run for their money. As we toured the park we came across Stations of the Cross, practically life-sized, that were carved (very much in a southwestern style) by Father Pommier. At the past week’s Holy Friday celebration we were told some 2300 people came and walked the stations. Here at the park were several Rotary projects, including a children’s park which had what you’d expect a children’s park to have: swings, slide, sandbox…but also had so much more: a pond with fish you could feed and paddle boat around, a picnic area, and a large amphitheater-style stage where live performances are held on the weekends. We were still getting accustomed to the heat and humidity, but still enjoyed walking the property and up & down several flights of stairs in a feeble attempt to work of f the feasts we consumed in the first couple days.
Tourism Council at City Hall
We returned to People’s Palace for a visit to the Tourism Council, run by the Mayors wife. Shortly after arriving, the city experienced a brown-out, so while our official presentation was delayed, we had an opportunity to visit with the staff and got the unofficial, but probably more helpful, version from a bright young lady named Norianne. The all volunteer council represents a variety of local businesses affected by tourism. Before too long, the lights came back on and we were able to see the prepared presentation.
Lunch at Fiesta Cotabato
We have been treated like royalty in our days here, and meal time is certainly no exception. Today Rotarian John hosted us to a beautiful lunch at a restaurant in town. We feasted on crispy pata (pork leg) sweet and sour, pancit, and of course white rice. Plates of sweet juicy mango, pineapple, and a fruit salad dressed in sweetened condensed milk. Delicious! Just as we thought it would soon be time to go, one of the waiters rushed in intently carrying a plastic bag with two square containers. We were summoned back to the table…they had a treat for us. Curious, adventurous, always anxious to taste a new delicacy, we had no idea what we were in for…
Once the lid on the container was cracked it was undeniable…the infamous…the much anticipated (and often feared)…durian fruit! While there was some familiarity of this local delicacy among the team., no amount of research or programs on the Travel Channel could appropriately prepare us for the experience of the aroma….this Team Member is unsure how exactly to describe it except to say that nature is amazing in developing survival methods to ward of predators. For the durian fruit, it is its smell. A smell which as we have been told, causes some hotels and local airlines to prohibit it from being brought aboard. A smell which not just causes a turn of the nose but for some, a turn of the stomach. Now, let it be known that it is not just these American travelers that have an aversion to this unique fruit. Here locally, the question of “do you like durian?” is as common here as “red or green?” is in New Mexico. A casual survey has resulted in about 50/50….and either way the answer is emphatic. People absolutely love it or they absolutely do not.
Our willingness to truly immerse ourselves in the culture helped work through the smell and curiously, cautiously offer our plated up for a taste. Our dear hosts were excited to share this experience with us. And an experience it was! Let us just say it is an experience we are grateful we participated in, but not one we look forward to experiencing again. (Barry, our young host, guide, friend and driver—made us ride in a different car after learning that we consumed durian! From now on, we’ll stick with other local delicacies…sweet fruit like the mango, mango stein, lazones, pineapple….mmmmmm………
Center for Handicapped
If nothing else, Rotarians are known for their service among self. District 3870 seems especially dedicated to this mission. We have had the opportunity to visit several Club Projects. One of the first and most memorable for this Team Member was the visit to the Center for the Handicapped in Cotabato City, sponsored by the Mother Club. The Center was developed to assist local deaf, hearing impaired and developmentally disabled children with the goal of rehabilitation and integration into the community. This center allows for many of these Cotabato youth to have access to opportunities. They are taught to communicate in Sign Language (ASL) and lip read. They are offered instruction in computers and other technical and vocational training and the arts. RC Cotabato has contributed much to this organization, and the instructors and students expressed their gratitude by preparing a short program for us. It was at the same time delightful and touching to see the joy on the faces of these children, and the dedication of the instructors. (A side note: Anita’s host family in Cotabato owns and runs a chain of successful restaurants--Kitoks Liston Manuk. The Yu Ekeys have for several years worked in collaboration with the Center and employed several of their students)
Notre Dame University
Education is a priority and very highly valued here, and this was apparent in the high level of degrees held, and the pride graduates have in their alma maters. The Assistant District Governor, Linda Zurita, is not only a graduate of Notre Dame of Cotabato, but was employed there for 20+ years. Team Member Kim, who is the recruitment coordinator for NMSU was interested in this vocational visit, (which for those of you that don’t know, Vocational Visits are a key component to the GSE Program, as they provide a way for us young professionals to gain a new perspective in our respective fields and to share best practices with our Philippino counterparts)
Notre Dame in Cotabato City, a Catholic University has been around for 61 years, and offer programs in nursing, engineering, arts and science and business accounting. They currently enroll approximately 4500 students and are looking to start offering online classes.
Club Meeting Rotary Cotabato
After a couple hours rest we attended the club meeting held at the Kitoks Litson Manok, one of the restaurants in the chain that Anita’s host family, the Yu Ekeys own and run. Like meals previous, this one was beautiful and abundant. They had prepared a lechon, which we considered such a special treat! The young pig was roasted whole, slowly and over low heat until the skin became so crispy that you had to crack it with a knife to get to the juicy rich meat waiting inside. There was different opinions which part was the tastiest—the rib, the leg, the loin….but everyone agreed that the crispy skin was the best part! After dinner and fellowship and a bevy of photographs, we were presented with a
Beautiful gift wrapped exquisitely in dyed fibrous paper and a bow of hand crafted ribbon. The package itself was a work of art, but nestled inside were brightly colored fabrics…called a malong, this is a traditional piece used by Muslims and can be used in many different ways.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment